Former Kansas Jayhawks defensive back, NFL All-Pro LeRoy Irvin dies at age 68
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- LeRoy Irvin, a former Kansas defensive back, died at age 68.
- Irvin set the NFL single-game punt return record with 207 yards in 1981.
- Irvin was named NFL first-team All-Pro three times with the Rams.
Former Kansas Jayhawks defensive back LeRoy Irvin, an all-Big Eight selection in 1978-79 and three-time All-Pro with the Los Angeles Rams, has died at the age of 68.
The Rams announced his passing Thursday on social media.
“We mourn the loss of Rams legend LeRoy Irvin,“ the organization wrote on X. ”We extend our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
According to published reports, the Rams’ third-round pick in the 1980 NFL Draft had been battling cancer.
Irvin piled up a single-game NFL record for punt-return yards, 207, in the Rams’ 1981 victory over Atlanta. He became the fifth player in league history to score two punt-return touchdowns in the same game (75 and 84 yards), adding a late 37-yard return in that contest.
“I had lots of great moments in my career, but that 1981 game with the most punt-return yards in a single game in NFL history is probably the highlight game of my career,” Irvin said in an interview with Andrew Kelly of cover32.com.
“However, after growing up a Cowboys fan, going in there and getting some picks on ‘Monday Night Football’ was really cool as well,” Irvin added.
As a senior at Kansas in 1979, Irvin intercepted five passes and led the Big Eight with 27 punt returns for 321 yards and two touchdowns. In his four years with the Jayhawks, he returned 42 punts for 454 yards and two touchdowns to go with 10 interceptions as a cornerback.
Irvin spent 10 of his 11 years in the NFL with the Rams. He retired after playing one season with the Detroit Lions.
Irvin racked up 35 interceptions and nine forced fumbles in his NFL career. He had five interceptions in 1984, including two that resulted in pick-six touchdowns.
He was the only freshman on the 1976 KU squad to be awarded a starting spot. He led the team in tackles his sophomore year, and then he led KU’s defensive backs in tackles as a junior. He had 21 tackles in a game against Missouri during his senior year.
“When I was at Kansas I left school as the all-time leading tackler in school history,” Irvin said in an interview with sportscollectorsdaily.com. “That in and of itself made me a great tackler. I was always physical being in the Big Eight. I averaged 15 tackles a game.
“Like Dan Marino said, I was a ‘peeker.’ I would peek in the backfield. I would take chances. I would jump routes. Like the guys told me one time, ‘If you aren’t number one now, you will be.’
“We were ballers. We don’t give a (darn) about risking it all every time. That’s how I was. I didn’t care about risking it all. In 1986, I was named All Pro in the first part of December. It was my first All-Pro season. Dan Marino came into town. I gave up one touchdown all year, to Dwight Clark. Marino beat me for three touchdowns with one in overtime to Mark Duper. After the game they asked Marino why he went after Irvin and he said, ‘Because we knew he was a peeker. You live by the sword and you die by the sword.’
“Like Marino said, I would peek in the backfield. I would jump routes. Like the guys told me one time, ‘If you aren’t number one now, you will be.’ We were ballers. We don’t give a (darn) about risking it all every time. That’s how I was. I didn’t care about risking it all. “
Of his philosophy playing the game, he told cover32.com: “I always played with great other guys in the secondary and we would study the other team and find out their tendencies. We would pick out certain situations to take chances and let our safeties know that we need them to be there over the top. I would try to jump the hitch, so I needed somebody to be there over the top in case they went with a hitch-and-go. Our defensive backs coach actually just found out about this three years ago, we were all laughing.”
Born at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Irvin emerged as a top college prospect at Glen Hills High School in Augusta, Georgia. Outside of football, in the past three years, Irvin along with former Rams teammate Vince Ferragamo, founded End Zone Mortgage in Anaheim Hills, California. He started a company with former Rams teammate Eric Dickerson. The company offered a line of NFL licensed collectible products.
“Devastated to hear about the passing of my brother, teammate, and Rams legend LeRoy Irvin,” Dickerson wrote on social media site X. “LeRoy wasn’t just a lockdown corner and a fierce competitor on the field; he was a true friend and a great man who always brought incredible energy. Rest in peace, my brother. Sending my thoughts and prayers to the Irvin family and all of Rams Nation.”
Irvin was known for being a colorful quote with reporters, who enjoyed his outgoing personality.
“I was a big Joe Namath fan. The reason is because I saw a picture of him walking down Broadway with two nice looking women with him. I figured if I could be Joe Namath I could get two good looking women, too,” Irvin told sportscollectorsdaily.com. “When I was in high school I loved O.J. Simpson. I know that it’s horrible to say today but I loved O.J. Simpson. I wore number 32 and I patterned my running skills after O.J. Simpson. I was a running back in high school. That parlayed into my pro career. When I moved to defensive back in college, I always prided myself on being a great runner which led to me being a great punt returner.”
According to Jake Rogers of Viral Sports News, “LeRoy Irvin’s legacy endures as one of the standout defensive backs of his generation, remembered for his tenacity, versatility, and the energy he infused into every team he joined.”
